Sent on Mission: A Candle of Hope for Consecrated Life in Ghana
The Archdiocese of Kumasi recently became the spiritual heartbeat of West Africa as the Regional Conference of Major Superiors of West Africa (RECOMSWA) and Africa Religious Union Ghana (ARUG) Conference from 12th to 15th March 2026, drew to a close, leaving behind a powerful symbol of mission and consecration. In a moving gesture, Sr. Lucy Hometowu, SMMC, the president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Ghana, received a symbolic candle on behalf of all Consecrated Persons in Ghana, a radiant sign of the Church’s call to be “light of the nations” (cf. Lumen Gentium, 1).
The candle, entrusted to Sr. Lucy by Sr. Tiziana Merletti, SFP, the Secretary of the Dicastery for the Institute of Consecrated Life and Apostolic Life-Rome, is more than wax and flame; it embodies the enduring mission of consecrated life. As Vita Consecrata reminds us, “Consecrated persons are sent forth to be a living memory of Jesus’ way of living and acting” (VC, 22). This mission is not confined to cloisters or chapels but extends to the streets, schools, and communities where the Gospel must shine.
Sr. Merletti in her words of sending on mission prayed: ” Dear Consecrated Women and Men of West Africa. At the end of your Congress, we are sending you out in the name of the universal Catholic Church as witnesses of hope to bring the transformative light of the gospel to your various conferences and nations. As we embark on this mission, remember that you are ambassadors of hope, love and light. May your heart be filled with courage and your steps guided by faith. Amen
The conference emphasized that being sent on mission is not a burden but a joy. Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium writes: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” (EG, 1). With this joy, consecrated men and women in Ghana are called to embody hope, unity, and service—especially in times when society longs for authentic witnesses of faith.
As the candle was lifted high in Kumasi, it became a beacon of renewal, reminding all present that the mission of the Church is ever alive. The flame entrusted to Sr. Lucy Hometowu, SMMC is now a shared responsibility: to keep burning brightly in Ghana, illuminating paths of justice, peace, and love.
By Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu SMMC
(Catholic Sister Communicators network-Ghana. CASCON-GH)
